HAWKS FIGHT TO THE WIRE WITH NO. 10 REIVERS

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College women's basketball team hung with the No. 10-ranked Iowa Western Community College Reivers for three quarters, before ultimately falling 75-59 Thursday night at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk.

The Hawks (8-17, 5-10 ICCAC) took an early lead after two made free throws from Ashley Hassett (Hershey, Neb.) with 4:17 to play in the first quarter to take a 13-11 advantage. The Hawks trailed the Reivers 40-27 at half, but they rallied with a 9-0 run capped off by a Hassett made layup with 3:54 to play in the third quarter to bring the score to 50-47.

The Reivers were able to fight off the Hawks in the fourth quarter to secure the road victory.

STAT SHEET

• Ashley Hassett (Hershey, Neb.): 28 PTS, 10 REB
• Autumn Dickmander (Brule, Neb.): 12 PTS, 5 REB
• Molly Davis (Yutan, Neb.): 9 PTS, 6 REB

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH

Assistant women's basketball coach Justin Heng's overall thoughts on the contest:

"We battled," Heng said. "We had some missed opportunities in the second half. In the fourth quarter some layups that didn't go our way. They hit some threes. The main thing is we battled. We stuck in it."

Heng's positive takeaways from the matchup:

"Our overall grit and toughness," Heng said. "We don't quit. We had girls diving for balls when we were down 15 points. Two starters still going for balls when we were down with two minutes left in the game. The main thing is we don't give up. We keep battling. I know we lost, but we stuck in it with the No. 10 team in the country, so you can't be disappointed about that."

Heng's early thoughts on facing Marshalltown Community College next:

"Well, we beat them here," Heng said. "I think we shot the ball pretty well against them. Our best overall game. Ninety-three points. We know traveling a four-hour trip, we're going to have to come ready to play. We're going to have to move the ball and hit our open shots. If we can do that, good things can happen."

UP NEXT

The Hawks will travel to Marshalltown Community College after winning the first meeting of the two teams 93-56. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday in Marshalltown, Iowa.

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